Harmonica or mouth-organ.



PATENTBD AUG. 29, 1905.

H. H. NEILSON. HARMONICA 0R MOUTH ORGAN.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 190k INVENTOR ATTORNEYS moan .u. alumna 00..mw-mmumm, mmmvon u c HENRY HORATIO NEILSON, OF PERTH, CANADA.

HARMONICA OR MOUTH-ORGAN. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1905.

Application filed December 23, 1904- Serial No. 238,102.

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, HENRY HORATIO NEIL- SON, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, and a resident of Perth, in the Province of Ontario andDominion of Canada, have made certain new and useful Improvements inHarmonicas or Mouth-Organs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to harmonicas or mouthrorgans; and it consists,substantially, in the improvements hereinafter particularly described.

The invention has reference more especially to harmonicas ormouth-organs of that class or type in which a longitudinally-slidablemouthpiece is employed upon the instrument for the purpose offacilitating the playing of the instrument, as well as preventingsoreness of the lips of the player by abrasive contact of the lips withportions of the instrument in the act of playing thereon. In harmonicasor mouth-organs of this particular class or type various forms ofmouthpieces have been hitherto devised and various means have also beendevised for mounting the mouthpiece upon the instrument in such manneras to enable the same to be operated with the greatest ease of movementor the least amount of friction between the instrument and themouthpiece. Even with the more effective of these, however, it has beenfound by many players or performers upon the instrument that there isstill such hardness or resistance offered by the mouthpiece to the lipsof the player as also to result in an unpleasant tingling sensation tothe lips. Another objection to be found with many former constructionsof harmonicas or mouthorgans of the class or type referred to is theimpairment of the musical tones of the instrument caused by the metallicsounds produced by the slidable contact of the bearing portions of themouthpiece with adjacent bearing portions of the instrument, which alsosets up vibration of the metallic parts of the structure to such anextent as to be exceedingly unpleasant to the performer.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to overcome thedisadvantages and objections above pointed out and also to provide aharmonica or mouth-organ of the class or type specified which isexceedingly simple and inexpensive to manufacture and thoroughlyefiective and reliable for its purposes, besides possessing the capacityfor long and repeated service.

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantiallysuch as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a perspective view of one embodiment of harmonica or mouth-organcomprising my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar View of anotherembodiment of harmonica or mouth-organ also comprising my improvements.Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2.Fig. L is an enlarged sectional view in detail, showing the constructionmore clearly. Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, are also enlarged sectional viewsin detail, showing different means for supporting the rollingcushioning-bearings for the slidable mouthpiece of the instrument.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated thatmy improvements are applicable to many forms of harmonicas ormouth-organs at present in use, from which it is to be understood thatthe embodiments thereof herein shown are simply selected for thepurposes of illustration, although I have also incorporated thereincertain features of construction, which are to be considered as a partof my invention. In each of said embodiments, as well as in the carryingout of my invention in any other way, I provide the instrument with anypreferred form of slidable mouthpiece, having therein the usual slot oropening communicating with the reed-compartments of the body of theinstrumen t, and between the instrument and the mouthpiece I dispose orlocate cushioningbearings of any desired character, preferably of rubberor other resilient material or a composition of rubber and wood or thelike. The said cushioning-bearings are preferably constructed andsupported to have a rolling motion under the action of the slidingmovements imparted to the mouthpiece, the latter being mounted thereon,and while the instrument itself may be constructed to support the saidcushioning-bearings I prefer that the same be supported by themouthpiece, for then not only am I enabled to sell to the trade acomplete instrument equipped with my improvements, but I am also enabledto manufacture and sell the mouthpiece so equipped also to reduce to aminimum the friction between theinstrument and the mouthpiece, and inone of the embodiments herein illustrated a suitable number of thebearings are so distributed and supported as to overcome any tendency tolateral rocking of the mouthpiece transversely of the instrument. I donot limit myself to any of the details herein referred to, sinceimmaterial changes therein may be made without departing from the spiritor scope of my invention.

Reference being had to the drawings by the designating characters markedthereon, 1, Fig. 1, represents in entirety an ordinary harmonica ormouth-organ having at either side of the body 2 thereof the usual sideor reed plates 3, near to the ends of which are secured at 4C a curvedreed-guard 5, forming between the same and thecorresponding side of theinstrument a chamber into and from which pass the breath and sound asthe instrument is being played upon. The top plate 6 (hereinafterdesignated frontispiece) is provided with openings '7 thereincorresponding to the usual reed-compartments in the said body 2 of theinstrument, the frontispiece being secured in place near its ends bymeans of screws 8, the heads of which project above the surface of thefrontispiece, as shown. Mounted upon the harmonica or mouth-organ is anypreferred type of longitudinally-slidable mouthpiece 9, formed with theusual longitudinal slot or opening 10 and also shown herein asconstructed with outstanding-end members 11, into which the slot mayextend at either end of the mouthpiece, together with side portions 12,which are curved outwardly at 13 in correspondence with the curvedformation of the said reed-guard 5, thus enabling the mouthpiece to beeasily reciprocated longitudinally of the instrument in the ordinaryway. In said Fig. 1 each of the end members 11 of the mouthpiece ispreferably provided at the sides with opposite wings 14, and journaledin each pair of these wings is a rotatable device 15, of rubber or otherpreferred resilient material, said devices constitutingcushioning-bearings for the mouthpiece 9 when mounted upon theinstrument and imparting a yielding resistance both to the mouthpieceand to the mouth of the player. It is of course apparent that the sidesof the harmonica or mouth-organ may be devoid of external appendages,such as are presented by the curved reed-guards 5, in which case boththe sides of the instrument as Well as the side portions of themouthpiece may be constructed practically straight. I may dispense Withthe frontispiece in some instances, but preferably employ the same, theheads of the said fastening-screws 8 therefor serving as stops forlimiting the movement of the mouthpiece in either direction. In theevent the same is dispensed with, however, the cushioning-bearlng 15will then be mounted to roll either upon the upper edges of the side orreed plates or along the upper longi tudinal edges of the body of theinstrun'ieut itself, all of which will be readily understood from theconstruction herein shown and described.

As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4c, the side or reed plates 16 of thebody 17 of the. instrument are turned inwardly at 18 over the adjacentupper edges of the said body, and thence outwardly at 19, forming outerlongi tudinal grooves, into which are received the edge portions 20 ofdownwardly and inwardly extending integral flanges 21, leadingfron'i theedges of the longitudinal slot 22 in the slidable mouthpiece 23. In thisembodiment of the structure I also preferably employ a frontispiece 24E,fastened. in place by screws 25, the heads of which serve as stops forthe mouthpiece, similarly as the heads of the screws shown in Fig.l,this frontispiece being dished transversely at 26 to rest upon theupper surface of the body 1'7 between the inturned bends 18 of the sideor reed plates and having the remaining longitudinal portions 27 thereofturned fiatwise to rest upon the said outwardlyturned flat portions 19of the said side or reed plates. The said longitudinal portions 27 ofthe frontispiece constitute tracks or ways, upon which roll or travelthe rotatable resilient or cushioning bearings 28, oppositely journaledat the inner sides of the opposite wings 29 of the outstanding endmembers 30 of the mouthpiece, the latter in this instance being providedwith hanging side portions 31, extending outwardly or away from thesides of the instrument in a downward direction and supporting from theinner surfaces thereof suitable pins or journals 32, on which aremounted other rotatable cushioning devices or bearings 33, which roll ortravel along the adjacent surface portions 31 of the outwardlycurvedreed-guards 3%, which are secured near their ends to the side or reedplates 16 by means of screws 35. Also projecting inwardly from the sideportions 31 of the mouthpiece are brackets 36, on which are rotatablyheld additional cushioning devices or bearings 38, which roll or travelalong the outer surfaces of the reed-guards 34: (see Fig. and serve toovercome any tendency of the mouthpiece and its appurtenances to rocktransversely of the structure.

The construction of the mounting for the severally-mentioned cushioningdevices may be varied in different ways, Figs. 5 and 8 showing each ofthe cushioning-bearings 15, for instance, as having journals 37, whichare su pported in bearings therefor in the opposite wings 38, supposedto form a part of the outstanding end members of the slidablemouthpiece. In Fig. 6 the cushioning device 39 is shown as constructedwith tapered ends 10, which are receivedv in openings in the supports 11therein. In Fig. 7 the cushioning device 12 is constructed with conicalrecesses in its ends,

ICO

in which are received projections 13 from the inner sides of thesupports A.

Referring back to the structure shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4t, it may bestated that the different parts of the complete instrument may be formedof any desirable material, as

is apparent, it being preferable in some instances to construct thefrontispiece of celluloid, vulcanite, or similar material, so as not toimpart an unpleasant taste to the lips of the player of the instrument.I may dispense with said frontispiece in some instances, in which casethe outwardly-turned flat portions 19 of the side or reed plates of theinstrument Would then constitute the tracks or ways for thecushioning-bearings 28 to roll or travel upon, the mounting for saidbearings being changed accordingly, as will of course be understood.Other modifications or changes of structure may be resorted to and stillcome Within the scope of the invention.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4c the mouthpiece will beevenly guided in its movements both by the working of the edge portions20 of the flanges 21 in the grooves in the side or reed plates and theworking of the lowermost cushioning devices against the sides of thereed-guards, as will be apparent. Said embodiment also is practicallyair-tight, and, if desired, the said lowermost cushioning devicesthereof may be dispensed with, in which event the side portions of themouthpiece could be considerably reduced in height. I prefer the use ofthese devices, however, in most instances. The frontispiece is dished,as shown, to prevent as much as possible any jarring which mightpossibly be imparted thereto by the cushioning-bearings 28 if the samewere straight or flat transversely.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. Aharmonica or mouth-organ comprising a longitudinally-slidablemouthpiece and rolling cushioning-bearings therefor.

2. A harmonica or mouth-organ compris ng a longitudinally-slidablemouthpiece and rolling cushioning-bearings therefor adapted to berotated by the movements of the organ in relation to the mouthpiece.

3. A harmonica or mouth-organ comprising a longitudinally-slidablemouthpiece and rolling bearings therefor constructed of a resilientmaterial and mounted to move on parts of the organ.

1. A harmonica or mouth-organ comprising a longitudinally-slidablemouthpiece, having therein a longitudinal slot, and rollingcushioning-bearings for the mouthpiece supported by the latter at theends of said slot.

5. A harmonica or mouth-organ, comprising a longitudinally-slidablemouthpiece having therein a longitudinal slot, and rotatable and rollingrubber bearings for the mouthpiece 7 supported by the latter at the endsof said slot.

6. A harmonica or mouth-organ,comprising a longitudinally-slidablemouthpiece having side portions embracing the sides of the instrument,cushioning-bearings for the mouthpiece located between the latter andthe adjacent upper parts of the instrument, and similar bearings betweenthe sides of the instrument and said side portions of the mouthpiece forpreventing transverse rocking of the latter.

7. A harmonica or mouth-organ,comprising a longitudinally-slidablemouthpiece having outstanding end members, and formed with alongitudinal slot, and rotatable cushioningbearings for the mouthpiecesupported by said end members. 7

8. A harmonica or mouth-organ, comprising a body having side platesformed at their upper portions with outer longitudinal grooves, and alongitudinally-slidable mouthpiece mounted on the instrument and formedwith a longitudinal slot, the portions of the mouthpiece forming theslot being turned downwardly and inwardly and having the edges thereofworking in said grooves.

9. A harmonica or mouth-organ,comprisin g a body having side platesformed at their upper portions with outer longitudinal grooves, and alongitudinally-slidable mouthpiece mounted on the instrument and formedwith a longitudinal slot, the portions of the mouthpiece forming theslot being turned downwardly and inwardly and having the edges thereofworking in said grooves, said mouthpiece carrying cushioning-bearingstherefor.

10. A harmonica or mouth-organ, comprising a body having reed-guards atthe sides thereof, a longitudinally-slidable mouthpiece, andcushioning-bearings between the latter and the instrument movable alongthe open side of the instrument and parts of said reedguards.

11. A harmonica or mouth-organ, comprising a longitudinally-slidablemouthpiece having side portions embracing the sides of the instrument,and cushioning devices between the instrument and said side portions forpreventing transverse rocking or tilting of the mouthpiece.

12. A harmonica or mouth-organ, comprising a body having side platesformed with tracks or ways on opposite sides of the open ends of thereed-compartments therein, a frontispiece having corresponding tracks orways superposed upon the first, and a longitudinally-slidable mouthpiececarrying cushioning-bearings therefor movable on the saidsecond-mentioned tracks or ways.

13. A harmonica or mouth-organ, comprising a body having side platesformed with tracks or ways on opposite sides of the open ends of thereed-compartments therein, a frontispiece having corresponding tracksorWays superposed upon the first, and a longitudinally-slidable mouthpiececarrying cushioning-bearings therefor movable 0n the said for supportingthe same when mounted on an second-mentioned tracks or Ways, said fron-Instrument.

tispiece being dished transversely, as shown '7 H 1' a and for thepurpose described. HENR) HORAUO NImLbON' 5 14. As a new article ofmanufacture, a Witnesses:

mouthpiece for harmonicas or mouth-organs AGNES A. KELLQGK, providedwlth rotatable cushioning-bearings JAMES ROBERTSON.

